1900 | BRIEFER ARTICLES 411 
that ‘the display of the species at Havana clearly demonstrates that it 
isnot a hybrid at all,” that the fern appeared “to be multiplying, as 
many young plants were seen in the crevices,’’ and that “this myth 
of hybridity may be put aside, for Asplenium ebenoides is as clearly 
defined a species as we possess in the genus Asplenium, and has no 
near relatives outside of its own genus.”’ It seems to me that the con- 
clusion adopted by Professor Underwood does not follow necessarily 
from the facts observed, and is perhaps less logical than the assump- 
tion, on the other hand, that the fern is a hybrid because always found 
under what may be termed “suspicious circumstances.’ 
In the particularly rugged conglomerate gorge where 4. ebenotdes 
grows at Havana, it is indeed abundant ; plants in all stages of growth 
abound, from the prothallus to the independent small plant and those 
tanging to the maximum of ten or eleven inches. Asplenium platy- 
neuron ( A. ebeneum) is common in the near vicinity, but Camptosorus 
is not in great evidence, in fact, was not seen either by Mr. Pollard or 
myself (who made no especial search for it), though it had previously 
been found here in small quantity. Now, if it be agreed, as Professor 
Underwood assumes, that a test of this fern’s hybridity consists in aes 
inability to reproduce through its spores, most assuredly A. ahencler 
May not be classed as a hybrid; for the presence of prothalli and 
young plants in such numbers precludes the possibility of their having 
arisen in any other way, such as by a wholesale crossing of the sus- 
pected parents. The chances of frequent crossing are indeed small, 
Since the Camptosorus is present in such limited quantity; while the 
_ $foups of young plants are too far distant from mature ones to ea 
_ Pose that they arose from proliferous buds ; besides the prothalli 
_ Would arise only from spores. | 
ep. The Son ae arises, then, as to whether the fact eo 
 fern’s fertility effectually disposes of the supposition of its hybri ie 
_ May it not be a fertile hybrid? The only really well-authentica we 
‘ instances of hybridization between species, of which I - ee ee 
_ those of Phyllitis scolopendrium (Scolopendrium vulgare) with er i 
- oficinarum, Polypodium vulgare elegantissimum with Phlebodium oto 
Nd Polystichum aculeatum with Polystichum angulare. Int i ‘tah 
_ “ase* the cross was effected by Lowe. Three fronds Lsaichennits ad 
: pe tr. C. T. Druery, who has explained carefully® their intermen's 
. *DRuERY: Gardener’s Chronicle Sept. 1895- 
? Journ, Roy. Hort. Soc. 24: 292. 1900. 
